Indian regulator orders airlines to inspect Boeing fuel switches following Air India crash report

India’s aviation regulator has ordered airlines to examine fuel switches on Boeing aircraft following a preliminary report on the Air India flight 171 crash in June. The report revealed that the fuel supply was cut seconds after takeoff.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued the order after airlines began inspecting the locking mechanisms on the switches. South Korea is also planning to order inspections for airlines operating Boeing jets in the country.

The preliminary report found that both engines of the crashed Boeing 787 Dreamliner were starved of fuel, leading investigators to focus on the fuel switches in the cockpit.

There are theories of pilot error or faulty fuel switch locks, but Air India has cautioned that the investigation is ongoing with no actions recommended against Boeing.

The report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau cited a voice recording from the flight deck where one pilot questioned the fuel cutoff. Both switches were moved back to allow fuel flow, but the plane was unable to recover.

The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association denounced speculative narratives, including insinuations of pilot suicide, stating there is no basis for such claims at this stage.

Concerns around fuel switches were raised due to a 2018 bulletin from the US FAA recommending checks on Boeing aircraft locking mechanisms. However, the advisory did not mandate inspections as an unsafe condition.

Former airline captain Steve Giordano believes the issues were not mechanical or airplane-related but possibly caused by human error.

According to the source: The Guardian.